McGinn wants you to bike, walk and ride

“Mike bikes” was one of Mike McGinn’s slogans during last year’s election.

Now McGinn, Seattle’s mayor, has challenged prominent locals and others to “bike,” “walk” or “ride” for five days this month when they’d usually take a car.

McGinn bikes away from an event near the Viaduct in January

“I am excited that so many leaders in our community are taking this challenge on. I hope that the experience of taking on this challenge will lead to a broader discussion on how we can make walking, biking and using transit the easiest ways to get around our city,” McGinn said in a statement.

Among the participants is City Councilman Tom Rasmussen, who has sparred with McGinn over the past few months over transportation policy – most notably the tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

“It will be a challenge to attend my scheduled meetings throughout the city solely by public transportation, bike or by walking. But I look forward to a week of being as ‘car-free’ as possible,” Rasmussen said.